The George Municipality is celebrating a successful, fatality-free festive season; drones played a big role in keeping beachgoers safe.
George, South Africa (10 January 2024) – The George Municipality had a successful, fatality-free festive season along its coastline. The deployment of drones and emergency services, alongside lifeguards and the NSRI volunteers meant the seaside town was prepared for everything, and it paid off!
Sharing the happy news, the team also shared that the drones were a huge help over the festive season. A member of the public was able to spot sharks in the bay, alerting officials and drawing unwanted attention from the local seagull population. Some other fun moments included:
- Seagulls made an unexpected appearance, chasing a drone operated by a member of the public who assisted in spotting six sharks on Saturday.
- Dolphins unexpectedly joined lifeguards in their rescue efforts, swimming alongside them in the waves.
- In an unexpected turn of events during the festive season, law enforcement officials encountered a few spirited individuals running nude in the streets on their way to the midnight swim in Herolds Bay.
“This festive season concludes with emergency services celebrating a commendable achievement – zero fatalities at George beaches despite a busy period with thousands of visitors, particularly at popular spots like Herold’s Bay and Victoria Bay.
The mobile Joint Operational Centre and the Fire Brigade drone were strategically deployed, showcasing the effective use of technology for sea condition assessments, shark spotting, locating missing persons, and rescue operations. This collaboration between George Municipality and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) proved highly beneficial in enhancing safety measures.
Emergency services reported a total of 849 preventive actions, 7 non-fatal drownings, and 63 rescues, with rip currents accounting for 36% of rescue incidents. The NSRI Lifeguards, NSRI volunteers, and other emergency personnel at various beaches managed 46 first-aid incidents and provided 13 emergency medical assistance services during the festive season.
The NSRI, contracted by George Municipality, oversaw professional lifeguards deployed at Gwaing Beach, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay, Wilderness Leentjiesklip, Steps, Wilderness Main, and Conville Public Swimming Pool daily throughout the season. Their collaborative effort resulted in zero fatalities on George beaches in December.
The George Municipal Emergency Services were equally busy addressing fires across parts of George. The Fire Brigade responded to 9 formal structure fires, 19 informal structure fires, 34 veld fires, 2 building fires, 4 motor vehicle fires, 26 motor vehicle incidents, and 10 other emergency incidents.
Cornelius Barnard, Chief Fire Officer and Disaster Management in the George Municipality, expressed pride and gratitude for the swift responses that led to saving lives. The successful outcomes in preventing drownings and controlling fires underscore the commitment and dedication of the emergency services to the George community and its visitors.” – George Municipality
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